UK quality circle failures—The latest picture

This paper presents the main findings of postal questionnaires on quality circle failure based on a total response from 127 manufacturing organisations. Also reported are the results of interviews held in four of the respondent companies with facilitators, and leaders and members of quality circles which had failed. The findings indicate that some companies are still ignoring the well documented guidelines for circle programme implementation and operation. Redundancies and or company restructuring remain the major causes of both complete programme and individual circle failure. It is also pointed that most circle members are not interested in financial rewards for their circle activities, but there is a general feeling that non members do not appreciate their efforts. Significant differences in opinion were found between circle members and those of circle leaders and facilitators, in particular, those related to perceptions of management support for circles.